The Brooklyn Nets are off to a 1-2 start under new head coach Jordi Fernandez. Despite beating the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, the glaring storyline was not the win but the disappointing performance of Ben Simmons. The former Rookie of the Year was hyped up over the summer as a reborn player, ready to regain his once early outstanding NBA form. However, that hype has yet to be justified, and Simmons still shows signs of past struggles.
3x All-Star Ben Simmons Still Struggling With Past Hauntings
Ben Simmons Remains Hesitant on the Basketball Floor
It was a troubling sequence for Simmons at the end of the fourth quarter in Sunday’s win against the Bucks. The game was in hand, as the Nets were up by 17 with just under four minutes left to play. However, none of that exempted Simmons’s questionable play following a steal and repossession of the ball that he caused. It was a great steal as he snuck up behind Damian Lillard to poke the ball away, but what followed drove hands to scratch heads.
Throughout the offseason, the former 76ers draft pick and eventual three-time All-Star was in the gym working on his game, which had majorly fallen off in previous years. His trainer, widely respected NBA trainer, and development guru Chris Brickley, praised Simmons’s summer workouts, giving the NBA star a massive vote of confidence going into the new season. Unfortunately, it hasn’t started off great. Simmons has managed just 15 points in the Nets first three contests. Although his assists numbers have been solid, his scoring production has been the opposite. In a head-scratching sequence against the Bucks, Simmons showed a side of himself that we all hoped was gone. Even Brooklyn’s play-by-play announcers were shocked, which led them to jump on his back.
Simmons had a good look at the basket but slowed down and proceeded to give the ball up instead of going up. The announcers remarked that Simmons should have attacked the basket; ‘get it and go’ as the announcer put it. In that instance, Simmons looked overly hesitant, and his decision subsequently led to a dead offensive possession. He finished the night with two points, six rebounds, and six assists. What is also glaring is that he has more fouls than field goal attempts so far this season.
Jordi Fernandez Wants More From Simmons
The Brooklyn Nets all-star is struggling to be aggressive, even struggling with confidence, as it would appear. If this lingers deeper into the season, this does not bode well for him. But despite Simmon’s low production thus far, his coach seems to see positives. During a post-game press session last week, Fernandez complimented Simmons’ aggressiveness but insinuated that he wanted his player to shoot more.
“…I want those attempt to go up to 10 to 15 attempts per game, cause then when he does that and he’s very aggressive in the open court and touches the paint, good things happen.” Fernandez continued, “I don’t want him to drive to pass, I keep telling him I want him to drive to the rim and be aggressive, and thats what the team needs from him…”
Fernandez made these comments about Simmons after the game against the Orlando Magic last Friday. It may take more time for Simmons to reach the goals his coach has set for him. Considering his play against the Bucks, Simmons is clearly not there yet.
